Team USA

[gordontrue]

I'm really liking the roster. Good balance.

Think about trying to score on this lineup: Bulter, Klay, PG13, Draymond, & DeAndre.

Think about trying to stop this lineup from scoring: Kyrie, DeRozan, Durant, Melo, DeMarcus.

 

[tlance]

I'm really liking the roster. Good balance.

Think about trying to score on this lineup: Bulter, Klay, PG13, Draymond, & DeAndre.

Think about trying to stop this lineup from scoring: Kyrie, DeRozan, Durant, Melo, DeMarcus.

Honestly, I hate the second lineup. A ton of ISO ball there. IMO, Derozan does not belong on the roster. What does he add to a team like this? You don't need 1 on 1 midrange players. Give me a floor spacer like Reddick or Korver over him any day. When the international teams are allowed to play any defense they want, I think that second group gets beat.

 

[gordontrue]

Honestly, I hate the second lineup. A ton of ISO ball there. IMO, Derozan does not belong on the roster. What does he add to a team like this? You don't need 1 on 1 midrange players. Give me a floor spacer like Reddick or Korver over him any day. When the international teams are allowed to play any defense they want, I think that second group gets beat.

Some of these guys that play ISO in the NBA will not be doing that in the olympics. Look at what Melo has done in the last 2 olympics. With the shortened 3... guys like him and Durant can become very valuable spot up shooters.

I imagine DeRozan will be behind Klay and Butler on the depth chart for SG. I see him as one of the last guys off the bench along with Barnes.

 

[Bulletz]

Some of these guys that play ISO in the NBA will not be doing that in the olympics. Look at what Melo has done in the last 2 olympics. With the shortened 3... guys like him and Durant can become very valuable spot up shooters.

I imagine DeRozan will be behind Klay and Butler on the depth chart for SG. I see him as one of the last guys off the bench along with Barnes.

I think they'll be fine, but it could make for some close games.

 

[tlance]

Some of these guys that play ISO in the NBA will not be doing that in the olympics. Look at what Melo has done in the last 2 olympics. With the shortened 3... guys like him and Durant can become very valuable spot up shooters.

I imagine DeRozan will be behind Klay and Butler on the depth chart for SG. I see him as one of the last guys off the bench along with Barnes.

Yeah. Just a problem I have with USA basketball. I know the team wins most of the time, but it should. I think they need more specialists and fewer stars being asked to play roles. I love having guys like Klay and Butler on the team, but I doubt they will be used correctly either.

With this roster, I am starting:

Lowry
Klay
Melo
Durant
Jordan

Irving, Green and Butler would be the first off the bench to do what they do. From there, I would much rather have defensive minded big men and shooters than what they actually do have. Also, I don't love having Lowry and Irving as the PGs, because they will look for their own offense more than getting shots for scorers. Both make ideal instant offense bench guys, neither are great table setters.

 

[CitySushi]

Yeah. Just a problem I have with USA basketball. I know the team wins most of the time, but it should. I think they need more specialists and fewer stars being asked to play roles. I love having guys like Klay and Butler on the team, but I doubt they will be used correctly either.

With this roster, I am starting:

Lowry
Klay
Melo
Durant
Jordan

Irving, Green and Butler would be the first off the bench to do what they do. From there, I would much rather have defensive minded big men and shooters than what they actually do have. Also, I don't love having Lowry and Irving as the PGs, because they will look for their own offense more than getting shots for scorers. Both make ideal instant offense bench guys, neither are great table setters.

I don't really think it'll matter who starts. Team USA will likely go 10 deep every game, with parts just interchanging.

What I'm most interested in, is their closing lineup. How's this for a death lineup:

Klay, Butler, Melo, Durant and Green.

Draymond could be your defacto PG at the center position. You have 5 guys who could all switch on everything. You could insert Kyrie for Butler if you needed more offense. You might even be able to put George in there too.

This lineup has crazy flexibility at all positions.

 

[tlance]

I don't really think it'll matter who starts. Team USA will likely go 10 deep every game, with parts just interchanging.

What I'm most interested in, is their closing lineup. How's this for a death lineup:

Klay, Butler, Melo, Durant and Green.

Draymond could be your defacto PG at the center position. You have 5 guys who could all switch on everything. You could insert Kyrie for Butler if you needed more offense. You might even be able to put George in there too.

This lineup has crazy flexibility at all positions.

George is great. Forgot about him. He should start over Melo, but I doubt he will

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Well, Carmelo has not been in the playoffs lately, but I agree that some on that list look a little bad. It is tough to blame anybody though, given the health risks of traveling to Brazil.

Not sure how this team will fare. They are a little light on playmaking and they have a couple guys like DeRozan who don't belong on the roster. I think a mistake USA basketball routinely makes is that they don't incorporate enough role players. Give me a knock down shooter instead of DeRozan. As talented as Cousins is, the team has enough scoring. I would rather see another rim protector to back up Jordan and a couple defensive minded vets who are okay with taking a back seat.

The world has gotten a lot better I take it. This coming from a guy that watches the Olympics to see track and field mostly.

I know other countries send their pro ball players and have long before the orig dream team but I wish it went back to the college players...the Olympics in general now is just a cash grab basically. As far as the NBA players go...it's only a story if they don't bring back the gold.

 

[tlance]

The world has gotten a lot better I take it. This coming from a guy that watches the Olympics to see track and field mostly.

I know other countries send their pro ball players and have long before the orig dream team but I wish it went back to the college players...the Olympics in general now is just a cash grab basically. As far as the NBA players go...it's only a story if they don't bring back the gold.

I don't want to see our college guys playing against their pros. We would never win. Since the USA is the home of basketball and has the most talent, that would be terrible.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

I don't want to see our college guys playing against their pros. We would never win. Since the USA is the home of basketball and has the most talent, that would be terrible.

I want to win as much as the next guy, and maybe it's more competitive than I think it is (haven't watched since dream team II), but I at least want to see a competition....I don't remember those games being all that competitive.

Where I do agree with you is sending a real team (i.e. some role players) not just all stars. FWIW...I know few people that are down there on a regular basis and the stuff they talk about on TV (raw sewage, hardcore crime) is for real but somewhat overblown, mostly is isolated to areas that probably won't be on TV...in either case...I don't blame the athletes that bailed and the ones representing, I hope no one contracts anything.

 

[gordontrue]

Spain has been the best competition over the last decade or so but they aren't looking to be in great shape right now. No Marc Gasol really hurts them.

Lithuania has some promise and Serbia seems to be the favorite pick to challenge USA.

Its a single-elimination tournament so anything truly can happen.... but even with all of the players opting not to go... USA is so far above everyone else from a talent perspective.

 

[tabascojet]

where the honkeys at??

 

[bksballer89]

Spain has been the best competition over the last decade or so but they aren't looking to be in great shape right now. No Marc Gasol really hurts them.

Lithuania has some promise and Serbia seems to be the favorite pick to challenge USA.

Its a single-elimination tournament so anything truly can happen.... but even with all of the players opting not to go... USA is so far above everyone else from a talent perspective.

Clearly. I feel like back in 08 competition (even though we had a tremendous team with prime Wade, Kobe, Lebron, Melo, Bosh & etc) was much better than what we'll face this summer

 

[Hornsstampede2.0]

The international teams are much weaker as well.

Argentina is a shell of itself and Spain is injured.

There really isn't any other great international teams that can handle this group.

We should barely be challenged even if you don't like this group of players.

 

[WiggyRuss]

I think Kyrie takes the last shot here. Its just who he is. Obviously he is not Kobe- will never be on Kobe's level- not even close- but mentality wise there are a LOT of similarities. Kobe is his mentor- not LeBron...not that Kyrie does not learn from LeBron- but Kyrie has always looked up to Kobe.

I am bummed Kyrie is playing- after having such a long season- and likely having another long season next year- but i get it- he does not have a gold medal yet- and is going to be the starting point guard on the Olymic team- coming off a championship. He has a chance to be a siginifncat part of a Gold medal team while really just continuing this coming out party of his.

 

[CodeBreaker]

So 2012 team is still the closest talent to the Dream Team... Or was Redeem team closer than 2012?

 

[wildturkey]

I still think the team needed another guard instead of Barnes. Either a PG or some combo guard (ala Harden).

 

[The Derski]

This video never gets old. I watch this probably more than I should but if you've ever been a groove doing something, anything, this is what it looks like. Video game. I love it.

 

[bksballer89]

So 2012 team is still the closest talent to the Dream Team... Or was Redeem team closer than 2012?

Redeem team for me

 

[gordontrue]

This video never gets old. I watch this probably more than I should but if you've ever been a groove doing something, anything, this is what it looks like. Video game. I love it.

Melo has the perfect game for international basketball.